September is National Cholesterol Education Month

Did You Know?

• The body makes all the cholesterol it needs and uses cholesterol to make hormones, vitamin D, and substances that help you digest foods.
• Saturated fat is the main culprit in the American diet that raises cholesterol levels in the blood.
• Adults 20 and older should have their cholesterol levels checked at least every five years.
• Egg whites contain no cholesterol.
  

High blood cholesterol increases your risk for heart disease – the number one killer of Americans. The higher your cholesterol level, the greater your risk.  Anyone can develop high cholesterol.  About 50% of American adults aged 20 years and older have cholesterol levels that are higher than desirable.

Where Does Cholesterol Come From?
Your body makes all the cholesterol it needs. Cholesterol is also found in some of the foods you eat.  Many things affect the level of cholesterol in your blood:

• Family history – High cholesterol can run in families.
• Age – As you get older, your cholesterol levels go up.
• Weight – Losing extra weight can help lower your cholesterol levels.
• Diet – Eating too much saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol raises the level of cholesterol in your blood.
• Physical activity – Physical activity can help you lose weight and lower your cholesterol

There are no signs or symptoms of high cholesterol. That's why it's so important to get your cholesterol levels checked. Ask your doctor for a blood test called a “lipoprotein profile” to measure your cholesterol levels.

What do the Numbers Mean?

Your lipoprotein profile will tell you about:

• Total cholesterol – A desirable total cholesterol is a number under 200.
• Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol – This is the bad type of cholesterol that can block your arteries.  Most people should try to keep their LDL cholesterol under 130.  If you have heart disease or diabetes, you should keep your LDL cholesterol under 100.
• High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol – This is the good type of cholesterol that lowers your risk for heart disease.  An HDL cholesterol below 40 is a major risk factor for heart disease.  An HDL cholesterol above 60 helps protect against heart disease.
• Triglycerides (a type of fat in your blood) – Keep this number under 150.
  

Your chance of having a heart attack or dying of heart disease in the next 10 years is influenced by your cholesterol levels and other risk factors (such as blood pressure or smoking). The higher your chance of having heart disease, the lower your LDL should be. Follow these steps to lower your LDL cholesterol:

• Make changes in your diet
• Increase your physical activity
• Control your weight

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